Mayors from Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, Des Moines, and Renton gathered for a joint news conference on March 28, 2025.
A coalition of mayors from a dozen Puget Sound cities is cautioning lawmakers against proposed tax increases, arguing they could lead to job losses and economic decline. Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson, along with leaders from Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, Des Moines, and Renton, expressed concerns that higher business taxes would push companies out of Washington, reducing revenue rather than increasing it.
Among the proposals is a 1% business and occupation surcharge on companies earning over $250 million, introduced by House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, and a 5% payroll tax from Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, which would apply to businesses with over $7 million in wage expenses. The Seattle payroll tax, a similar initiative, has already contributed to job cuts, with Amazon scaling back its local workforce and tax revenue falling $47 million short of projections.
The mayors emphasized that tech-sector jobs act as economic multipliers, supporting employment across industries. They also warned that, given existing economic pressures, such taxes could accelerate a downturn. As Washington navigates an uncertain economy, lawmakers should consider the long-term consequences of these policies before imposing further burdens on businesses.
